THE health of businessman Shrien Dewani, wanted in South Africa over the honeymoon murder of his wife, has “seriously deteriorated”, his family revealed yesterday.

Dewani has reacted poorly to medication prescribed as part of his mental health treatment

He has now been transferred to a different hospital suffering from chest pains and tests suggest he has reacted poorly to medication prescribed as part of his mental health treatment, his family said.

Dewani’s 28-year-old wife Anni was shot when a taxi the couple were travelling in was allegedly hijacked on the outskirts of Cape Town in November 2010. A hitman allegedly hired by Mr Dewani was sentenced to life in December for Anni’s murder. But Dewani, who had been being held at Blaise View mental health hospital in Bristol, denies orchestrating the killing. The businessman has so far not been extradited to stand trial in Cape Town because of his mental health.

A statement from the Dewani family said: “Shrien’s health has seriously deteriorated. He was admitted to hospital last weekend suffering from severe chest pains.”

It added that he had raised levels of an enzyme “indicative of another poor reaction to the medication he is being prescribed to improve his mental health”. The family said: “We are relieved that doctors have managed to stabilise him.

Anni was shot when the couple's taxi was allegedly hijacked on the outskirts of Cape Town

Shrien’s health has seriously deteriorated.

Dewani family

We are extremely grateful for the swift action of the hospital staff and are hopeful of a recovery.” In South Africa the trial of Anni’s killer Xolile Mngeni, 25, heard in November that he pulled the trigger after he was recruited by Dewani to carry out the assassination in an attack designed to resemble a car hijacking.

Prosecutors claim public schooleducated Dewani offered Mngeni the equivalent of £1,335 to perform the hit. A review of Dewani’s mental health has been set for April, ahead of a provisional full extradition hearing due on July 1. After his change of hospital, Dewani’s bail conditions have been altered at a hearing at Westminster magistrates court.